[Editor’s note: We’re back with another “Lessons Learned” post, and today my friend Christie of Mountainside Bride is sharing her wedding planning experiences with us!]
Photo by Justin DeMutiis Photography
I’m a big fan of looking back and finding valuable lessons to share. In fact, my blog used to be named the Hindsight Bride, and I still feature “Hindsight Interviews” along with my real weddings. So when Lauren asked me to share my Lessons Learned with y’all, I jumped at the opportunity. There were so many wedding lessons I learned and have been excited to share over the years. But here are a few bits of amazingness I want to share with you:
1. Hire for the very best photographer you can afford.
Forget the 10% wedding budget line item rule. This is one of the most important wedding decisions you’ll make. Take it from someone whose wedding pictures were ruined. Long after your wedding day is over- and believe me, it goes by fast- the only thing you’ll have left to remember every beautiful moment is your wedding pictures. Hiring a great photographer will ensure that all of the most important moments, people, and details are preserved. A great photographer can also help you look and feel your best on your wedding day. He or she will compose images that show you in the most favorable way, and coach you so you get gorgeous portraits. Believe me- they will be totally worth every penny.
Photo by Kate Breuer Photography
2. Focus on Guest Comfort.
I know it’s your day, but it’s also a big day for all of your guests. You could have assembled the most gorgeous and delightful details in the world for your wedding, but if you’re guests are roasting in the heat and humidity of your outdoor summer wedding in Florida, or are getting sunburned in the high altitude sun in Aspen they won’t remember (much less be delighted by) all of your lovely details. They will remember how uncomfortable they felt during your wedding. Talk to your planner about a Plan B for extreme weather, not just for rain or snow, but also dealing with extreme heat, cold or wind.
Similarly, if you have guests traveling from afar, make it easy on them. Book a block of rooms at a hotel so they can be near other guests. Offer them a little welcome bag that will introduce them to the area with maps and travel guides; will fill them in on wedding day or wedding weekend activities and schedules; and will offer a few local treats to delight them. Think of maple syrup for a Vermont wedding, or Ghirardelli chocolates for a San Francisco wedding. If you’re a mountain bride, be sure to list high altitude tips, such as staying hydrated and watching for signs of altitude sickness. If it seems overwhelming or you don’t know where to start, enlist your planner to help.
Photo via Carillon Weddings
3. Hire a Planner!
This is especially important for destination brides, but I think every bride should have a wedding planner. I’ve heard horror stories about brides trying to coordinate wedding day logistics on their cell phone while getting their hair and makeup done. (Not awesome for getting ready picts.) I’ve also heard stories of the photographer or DJ playing ad hoc planner. Believe me, you want your amazing photographer focused on you and your wedding, not chasing down your sister to ask that she retrieve your forgotten wedding dress from your hotel room. And, you want your friends and family to be able to enjoy the day, not be accosted by vendors who need additional information or direction. All that attention you put into hiring the perfect photographer an considering your guests’ comfort will be for nought if your wedding devolved into chaos because you skipped the wedding planner. Oh, and the event coordinator IS NOT a wedding planner. Hire a wedding planner :-)
Image via Leigh Pearce Weddings
About Christie: Christie O. is the publisher and editor of the Mountainside Bride Blog, the Ultimate Mountain Wedding Blog. She has spent her entire life living in mountain regions across the country and now calls Mammoth Lakes, CA home, where she lives with her husband and two dogs. Check out more Lookback Lessons from the Mountainside Bride.
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I love all of Christie’s lessons that she learned, and I hope all of you can learn from her sharing her experiences with us!
Lauren
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Thank you so much for having me on the blog today. What fun!
Great article!
Great advice. Have been debating whether to hire a planner for my own and think it may be time to give in and get one!!